Representatives of Gazprom International Successfully Debuted at the “Fakel” Festival | Gazprom International

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Representatives of Gazprom International Successfully Debuted at the “Fakel” Festival

Representatives of Gazprom International won awards for performing in the Northern Region qualifying round of Gazprom PJSC Corporate Festival “Fakel”, which was held on November 3–10 in Yekaterinburg.

The Company’s team took part in the qualifying round of the Festival for the first time. Two performances of the company’s representatives were ranked third variety-circus and specialty genres.

Ilya Shaposhnikov, Lead Specialist of the Technical Translation Division, received a 3rd degree diploma in the variety-circus nomination. “The Festival gave me a completely new impetus for understanding the tricks with yo-yo and diabolo, now I clearly understand how to perform in front of a large audience, how important the lighting and acting are,” he said.

The HeaVVy Mix duo of Viktor Lashkul, Chief Specialist of Public and Mass Media Relations, and Viktor Lazarev, son of Konstantin Lazarev, employee of the St. Petersburg Branch, was also ranked third in the specialty nomination for the musical and dance performance “Family Battle”. “The audience was cheering! We knew that we hit the mark, felt a response from the audience, the mood of people,” the performers shared their feelings.

Also, Rinata Abdumuminova, the daughter of Rustam Abdumuminov, employee of Gazprom International Representative Office in the Republic of Uzbekistan, became the finalist in the Young Artist contest for her artwork “Sunset”; she received an invitation to Sochi for the Festival finals.

Gazprom International was also represented by vocal duo “Manao” (Chinese for agate) of the mother and daughter ― Olga Kozhemyakina, Lead Specialist of Geological Data Collection and Analysis, and her daughter Anastasia. Even though the performance was not chosen by the judging panel, it was warmly welcomed by the audience thanks to an unusual theatrical accompaniment: the girls not only sang in Chinese, but also painted hieroglyphs. “We are stunned and happy even though we have not won prizes, because every girl dreams deep inside to become an actress. The dream came true at the “Fakel” Festival,” Olga Kozhemyakina noted.

Elena Karalashvili, a production director and a ballet master, who has worked in more than 50 shows in Russia and abroad devoted a lot of time and effort to train the participants of Gazprom International team: “I am mesmerized by the Festival. I didn’t see the difference between professional actors and participants of the Festival, and I am simply amazed by the progress our guys made in such a short time.”

Andrei Fick, Gazprom International’s Managing Director, congratulated the Company’s employees on the Festival debut: “Fakel” Festival is, first of all, aimed at stimulating and developing creativity, and we have succeeded! I wish my colleagues not to rest on their oars, improve their skills and aim for new victories!”

The regional round of the “Fakel” Festival was held in Yekaterinburg from November 3 to 10 and brought together 1600 guests, 20 teams representing subsidiaries other entities of Gazprom PJSC.

The judging panel evaluated participants during all 3 days of competitions in vocal, choreography, vocal-instrumental and instrumental, pop-circus and specialty, folklore nominations, as well as children’s artwork sent to the “Young Artist” contest.

The VIII Corporate Festival “Fakel” finals will be held in Sochi in May 2019.

Background:

The idea of a corporate festival came from workers and was met with support by the company’s management. The “Fakel” Festival for amateur creative teams and performers of subsidiaries and other entities of Gazprom PJSC was approved by the Board of Gazprom PJSC in 2003.

The corporate festival is held once every two years in three stages. During the first round in subsidiaries of Gazprom PJSC, the best performers are chosen to participate in the regional stages of the festival. The regional festivals are held during the second round (southern and northern regions). The winners of the regional rounds participate in the third final round.

The panel of judges of the qualifying round of the VIII Corporate “Fakel” Festival in Yekaterinburg includes well-known artists of the Russian Federation.